Cape Verde

 PRAIA, CAPE VERDE

April 18, 2025

Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, sits on the southern coast of Santiago Island.  Founded by Portuguese explorers in 1615, Praia is home to 90% of Cape Verde’s population and is the archipelago’s largest port.  The Old Town, nicknamed the “Plateau,” sits in the heart of the city overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.



We walked by the neoclassical Our Lady of Grace Church, where a Good Friday procession with a Christ-figure carrying a crucifix was taking place, as well as the Palace of the President and the statue of Diogo Gomes, an explorer and writer and a servant to Henry the Navigator. 



We then traveled to Ciduade Velha, the first city built by Europeans in the tropics and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then we toured the imposing Sao Filipe Royal Fortress perched on a plateau and overlooking the city since the 16th century and then on to the main square.




MINDELO, CAPE VERDE

April 19, 2025

The Cape Verde archipelago is a group of ten volcanic islands that enjoy a year-round warm climate, turquoise seas and beautiful landscapes


Our journey took us through the arid interior island landscape to the top of Monte Verde reaching a height of 2,441 feet.  



We sipped coffee and tea and maybe a bit of the national liqueur distilled from sugarcane – RUM or “grog” – at Baia das Gatas admiring its natural lagoon and again on the sands of Praia Grande overlooking the port and our Ship.   


 



Once back on the ship, we noticed that the Viking crew had added their insignia and major crew members names to the graffiti-covered storage lockers on the pier. Good job Viking!



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